Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nosara and Tivat

For one person, living is cheaper in Tivat: $1,644 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. The total is higher in Nosara despite lower rent and utilities.

Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Tivat
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nosara and in Tivat

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nosara and in Tivat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,839 per month in Nosara vs $1,644 in Tivat, rent included.

  • Nosara $1,839
  • Tivat $1,644

A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Nosara vs $2,486 in Tivat, rent included.

  • Nosara $2,828
  • Tivat $2,486

A family of three spends $3,818 per month in Nosara vs $3,327 in Tivat, rent included.

  • Nosara $3,818
  • Tivat $3,327

Nosara costs about 12% more than Tivat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Nosara and Tivat sit above the global median – Nosara by 36%, Tivat by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.35 ₡5,539
$11.15 €9.91
10.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₡27.4K
$44.89 €39.93
36.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 ₡3,373
$10.51 €9.35
-28.45%
Cappuccino
$4.41 ₡1,978
$2.23 €1.98
97.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₡780
$2.57 €2.28
-32.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₡587
$1.45 €1.29
-9.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,471
$3.11 €2.77
5.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ₡2,004
$3.43 €3.05
30.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₡701
$1.27 €1.13
22.83%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 ₡1,355
$1.05 €0.93
187.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.51 ₡1,125
$1.98 €1.76
26.77%
Eggs
$3.57 ₡1,603
$3.31 €2.94
7.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.43 ₡3,333
$8.45 €7.52
-12.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.52 ₡4,717
$8.42 €7.49
24.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 ₡6,265
$12.33 €10.97
13.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,052
$1.61 €1.43
45.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡720
$1.66 €1.48
-3.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.80 ₡2,152
$1.74 €1.55
175.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₡724
$2.92 €2.60
-44.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 ₡1,703
$0.94 €0.84
304.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.69 ₡1,657
$1.10 €0.98
235.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ₡507
$1.72 €1.53
-34.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.66 ₡1,191
$0.94 €0.83
182.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.18 ₡2,321
$4.25 €3.78
21.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.88 ₡8,916
$5.56 €4.94
257.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₡1,300
$1.12 €1.00
158.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ₡1,626
$1.66 €1.48
118.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.69 €1.51
-33.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.6 ₡32.6K
$39.69 €35.31
83.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₡958
$1.13 €1.01
89.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 ₡703
$1.14 €1.01
37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 ₡3,823
$11.22 €9.98
-24.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₡682
$1.75 €1.56
-13.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ₡9.7M
$29.6K €26.3K
-26.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ₡15.5M
$26.2K €23.3K
31.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₡43.2K
$128 €114
-24.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.89 ₡16.1K
$14.97 €13.31
139.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.6 ₡24.0K
$33.55 €29.84
59.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.6 ₡32.1K
$46.68 €41.53
53.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91 ₡15.7K
$15.45 €13.74
125.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 ₡3,539
$6.20 €5.51
27.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 ₡221.6K
$405 €360
22.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ₡5.3M
$7,300 €6,494
62.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 ₡24.2K
$86.3 €76.8
-37.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.4 ₡24.8K
$39.25 €34.91
41.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 ₡34.9K
$97.4 €86.6
-20.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 ₡35.7K
$104 €92.4
-23.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₡353.4K
$882 €784
-10.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₡356.2K
$791 €704
0.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,939 ₡1.8M
$1,973 €1,755
99.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,419 ₡636.5K
$1,428 €1,270
-0.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,912 ₡3.1M
$5,914 €5,260
16.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 ₡549.0K
$2,633 €2,342
-53.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nosara
Tivat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$864 ₡387.3K
$1,198 €1,066
-27.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
5.38
60.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Last update for Tivat: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Nosara
$794
Tivat
$791 0.4% $3.2
Groceries & Markets
Nosara
$352
Tivat
$232 34.3% $121
Eating Out
Nosara
$212
Tivat
$186 12.3% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nosara
$186
Tivat
$176 5% $9.3
Clothing & Footwear
Nosara
$120
Tivat
$147 22.5% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Nosara
$87
Tivat
$59 32.4% $28
Getting Around
Nosara
$87
Tivat
$53 38.8% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $788 in Nosara versus $882 in Tivat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Tivat, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Nosara versus $45.00 in Tivat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $232 – making Tivat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Nosara
🇲🇪 Tivat
🕒 Local time
01:24 1:24 AM
09:24 9:24 AM
8 h ahead of Nosara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912
9,500
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Nosara Tivat 10,410 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Nosara
  • Tivat

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Nosara vs Tivat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Nosara and in Tivat compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,839 in Nosara, $1,644 in Tivat – roughly 12% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Nosara compared to Tivat?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,758 per month in Nosara and $2,467 in Tivat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Nosara and Tivat?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tivat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Nosara and in Tivat?
Public transport costs about 83% less in Tivat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nosara and Tivat?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Nosara and $405 in Tivat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tivat, where all-in costs run around $1,644, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Tivat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Nosara and Tivat?
It depends on your priorities. Tivat has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,644 in Tivat to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Nosara or Tivat safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Nosara and Tivat?
If budget matters most, go with Tivat. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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